Bob Nichols (basketball)

Robert J. Nichols (July 10, 1930 – March 30, 2013) was an American college basketball coach. He was known for his tenure as the head men’s coach for the University of Toledo.

Bob Nichols
Nichols from the 1967 Blockhouse
Biographical details
Born(1930-07-10)July 10, 1930
Grand Haven, Michigan, U.S.
DiedMarch 30, 2013(2013-03-30) (aged 82)
Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
Playing career
1950–1953Toledo
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1956–1963Central Catholic HS
1963–1964Bowling Green (assistant)
1964–1965Toledo (assistant)
1965–1987Toledo
1989–1994Eckerd (women’s)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
5 MAC regular season (1967, 1972, 1979, 1980, 1981)
MAC tournament (1980)
Awards
3× MAC Coach of the Year (1974, 1979, 1980)

Nichols was born in Grand Haven, Michigan, and raised in Jackson, Michigan. He played college basketball for Toledo from 1950 to 1953. He was hired as head coach for Central Catholic High School in Toledo in 1956, and in seven seasons as head coach compiled a record of 111–39. He then entered the college coaching ranks, first as an assistant at Bowling Green, and then was hired as an assistant coach at his alma mater in 1964.[1] Nichols was promoted to head coach after head coach Ed Melvin resigned following the 1964–65 season.[2]

He coached Toledo for 22 seasons, compiling a record of 377 and 211. His teams won five Mid-American Conference (MAC) championships and the 1980 MAC tournament title. Nichols compiled twenty consecutive winning seasons, but resigned in 1987 after consecutive losing seasons.[3]

Nichols returned to coaching in 1989, where he first accepted the head coach position at Lake–Sumter Community College, but then reversed course and accepted the head women’s job at Eckerd College.[4] Nichols coached at Eckerd for five seasons, resigning to take care of his wife after she was in a serious car accident.[5]

Nichols died in Toledo on March 30, 2013, at age 82.[6]

References
  1. Autullo, Ryan (April 4, 2013). "Rockets' coach left legacy beyond court". Toledo Blade. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  2. "Bob Nichols new coach at Toledo". Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. February 10, 1965. p. 31. Retrieved January 20, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  3. "Bob Nichols, head basketball coach at the University of Toledo for the past 22 years, resigned Monday following his second consecutive losing season". UPI.com. March 2, 1987. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  4. "Coaching Hunt again takes LSCC forefront". The Orlando Sentinel. July 9, 1989. p. 36. Retrieved January 20, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  5. "Eckerd College's Nichols steps down". The Tampa Tribune. March 18, 1994. p. 74. Retrieved January 20, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  6. "Bob Nichols dies at 82". ESPN.com. March 30, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
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